I am having a very difficult time. My conversion began in December while I was still living in New York. There I attended a parish with amazing Dominican priests and with a young adult Catholics group full of smart and knowledgeable people. With them as my guides and I learned so much before the circumstances of life forced me to move to Montana about a month ago. Since I have gotten here I have been rather confused and dismayed at what I have encountered. One priest I talked to mentioned that the Church in the western states is much more informal then in the eastern states, but I feel that there is more going on here than just a lack of kneelers and an excess of hand holding. I have heard what I can only describe as false teaching from both a priest and an RCIA “team member”. I have encountered hostility towards traditionalism, and been made to feel that the manner of devotion which has sustained me through darkness and despair is unwanted here. I really don’t know what to do.
There is a small church about 25 minutes away that occasionally offers the Latin Mass, which I came to love while in New York. I have considered going there and asking the priest if I can have some sort of RCIA with him instead of the one at the church in town. What I want and need is serious catechismal instruction not a lot of “faith exploration”. At the same time I am concerned about “church shopping”. I am, after all, joining the Catholic Church not the church of this town or the next. I am afraid that, in light of serious problems, the informality is becoming a stumbling block and maybe I should learn to get over it. I just wish I had one Catholic here whose orthodoxy I could trust. I feel lost.
I wouldn’t consider it “church shopping” if you were to go to this other parish. To me my life in the Catholic Church is a journey in and to Truth and there is only one which is God Himself. I say the following Act of Faith daily:
“I believe in Thee, because Thou art Truth itself, and, as Thou hast revealed them to her, I believe all the sacred truths which the holy Catholic Church believes and teaches.”
I am not an ultra-traditionalist. I did grow up with the Latin Mass when it was the norm,. and, the Baltimore Catechism (1940’s). There is nothing wrong with the Novus Ordo especially with the new and more faithful translation that will be used this coming Advent.
If I were in a situation and there was a possibility of being subjected to false teaching I would “shake the dust form my dust from my feet” and leave, especially if I were a “newbie” (catechumen) and felt that the situation would be a danger to my faith. RCIA just gets one started on a long journey like mine has been
I have been studying the Church teachings for at least 57 years now and there is much more than I now know that I don’t and most likely never will in this life. Just three days ago I joined a study group that will “take” *A Biblical Walk Through The Mass
- developed by Edward Sri. There is a book, study guide, and DVDs. Fortunately, on of our local churches purchased the DVDs and is planning to use it for RCIA. ($20{?} Ascension Press)
I have read about 1/3 of the book and have been impressed. The text flows with great clarity and should stimulate good discussions.
Edward Sri is a nationally known Catholic speaker has written several best-selling books. he provost and professor of Theology and Scripture of the Augustine Institute. He holds a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy. (BTW St.Thomas has been my hero since my college days in the 50’s)
Always search for the truth, it will be difficult at times in our relativistically inclined society. I absolutely don’t buy into this “your truth is not my truth” syndrome. Truth is truth is truth and there is only one TRUTH and its source is God.
God Bless…
Yes, it was; same here! How exciting! The journey is just beginning.
I’m sick to death of it and